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Automatic rendition style determining apparatus and methodRelated Patent Categories: Music, Instruments, Electrical Musical Tone Generation, Data Storage, Digital Memory Circuit (e.g., Ram, Rom, Etc.), Note SequenceAutomatic rendition style determining apparatus and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060054006, Automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to automatic rendition style determining apparatus and methods for determining musical expressions to be applied on the basis of characteristics of performance data. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method which, during a real-time performance, permit automatic execution of a performance expressing a so-called "tonguing" rendition style. [0002] Recently, electronic musical instruments have been used extensively which electronically generate tones on the basis of performance data generated as a human player operates a performance operator unit or on the basis of performance data prepared in advance. The performance data used in such electronic musical instruments are organized as MIDI data etc. corresponding to individual notes and musical signs and marks. If pitches of a series of notes are constructed or represented by only tone pitch information, such as note-on and note-off information, an automatic performance or the like of tones, executed by, for example, reproducing the performance data, would become a mechanical and expressionless performance which is therefore musically unnatural. So, there have been known automatic rendition style determining apparatus which, in order to make an automatic performance based on performance data more musically natural, more beautiful and more realistic, permit an automatic performance while determining various musical expressions, corresponding to various rendition styles, on the basis of performance data and automatically imparting the determined rendition styles. One example of such automatic rendition style determining apparatus is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2003-271139. The conventionally-known automatic rendition style determining apparatus automatically determines, on the basis of characteristics of performance data, rendition styles (or articulation) characterized by musical expressions and a musical instrument used and imparts the thus automatically-determined rendition styles (or articulation) to the performance data. For example, the automatic rendition style determining apparatus automatically determines or finds out locations in the performance data where impartment of rendition styles, such as a staccato and legato, is suited, and newly imparts the performance data at the automatically-found locations with performance information capable of realizing or achieving rendition styles, such as a staccato and legato (also called "slur"). [0003] To determine a rendition style to be applied to at least two notes that should be generated in succession, the conventionally-shown automatic rendition style determining apparatus is arranged to acquire performance data of a succeeding or second one of the two notes prior to arrival of an original performance time of the second note and then, on the basis of the acquired performance data, determines a rendition style to be applied to the at least two notes (so-called "playback"). Thus, the conventional automatic rendition style determining apparatus has the problem that it is difficult to apply, during a real-time performance, a so-called "tonguing rendition style" (or rendition style representative of a reversal of a bow direction that characteristically occurs during a performance of a stringed instrument). Namely, during a real-time performance, performance data are supplied in real time in accordance with a progression of the real-time performance without being played back. With a rendition style, such as a legato rendition style (or slur rendition style), for sounding at least two notes in succession, performance data (specifically, note-on event data) of the succeeding or second one of the notes can be obtained prior to the end of a performance of the preceding or first one of the notes; thus, a legato rendition style, which is a joint-related rendition style connecting the end of the first note and beginning of the second note, can be applied to the beginning of the second note. However, with a tonguing rendition style or the like where two notes are sounded with an instantaneous break therebetween, it is not possible to acquire performance data (specifically, note-on event data) of the second note at the end of the performance of the first note; thus, it is not possible to make a determination as to which one of an ordinary or normal rendition style and tonguing rendition style should be applied to the beginning of the second note. Therefore, in the case where two successive notes are separated from (i.e., not connected with) each other, it has been conventional to apply a release-related rendition style leading to a silent state and attack-related rendition style rising from a silent state to the end of the first note and beginning of the second note, respectively. Thus, heretofore, even where a tonguing rendition style is applicable, no tonguing rendition style could be actually applied and a normal rendition style would be applied instead of a tonguing rendition style, so that no tonguing rendition style could be expressed during a performance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method which determine, on the basis of a time indicative of predetermined time relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession, a rendition style to be applied to a current note to be performed in real time and thereby permit a real-time performance while automatically expressing a tonguing rendition style. [0005] The present invention provides an improved automatic rendition style determining apparatus, which comprises: a supply section that supplies performance event information in real time in accordance with a progression of a performance; a condition setting section that sets a rendition style determination condition including time information; a time measurement section that measures, on the basis of the performance event information supplied in real time, a time indicative of temporal relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession; and a rendition style determination section that compares the time information included in the set rendition style determination condition and the measured time and, on the basis of the comparison, determines a rendition style that is to be applied to a current tone to be performed in real time. [0006] Once performance event information is supplied in real time in accordance with a progression of a performance, the time measurement section measures a time indicative of temporal or time relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession, on the basis of the performance event information supplied in real time. The rendition style determination section compares a rendition style determination condition, including time information, set via the condition setting section and the measured time, and then, on the basis of the comparison result, determines a rendition style that is to be applied to a current tone to be performed in real time. With the arrangement that a rendition style to be applied to the current tone is determined on the basis of the comparison result, it is possible to execute a real-time performance while automatically expressing a tonguing rendition style. Namely, because the present invention determines a rendition style to be applied to the current tone, on the basis of a time indicative of predetermined temporal relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession from among performance event information supplied in real time, it permits a real-time performance while automatically expressing a tonguing rendition style. [0007] The present invention may be constructed and implemented not only as the apparatus invention as discussed above but also as a method invention. Also, the present invention may be arranged and implemented as a software program for execution by a processor such as a computer or DSP, as well as a storage medium storing such a software program. Further, the processor used in the present invention may comprise a dedicated processor with dedicated logic built in hardware, not to mention a computer or other general-purpose type processor capable of running a desired software program. [0008] The following will describe embodiments of the present invention, but it should be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and various modifications of the invention are possible without departing from the basic principles. The scope of the present invention is therefore to be determined solely by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] For better understanding of the objects and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary hardware organization of an electronic musical instrument employing an automatic rendition style determining apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram explanatory of an example of performance data, and FIG. 2B is a conceptual diagram explanatory of examples of waveform data; [0012] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram explanatory of an automatic rendition style determining function and performance function performed by the electronic musical instrument; [0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of automatic rendition style determining processing carried out in the electronic musical instrument; and [0014] FIGS. 5A-5C are diagrams showing waveforms of tones generated in correspondence with various different rest lengths from a last note to a current note. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an exemplary hardware organization of an electronic musical instrument employing an automatic rendition style determining apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic musical instrument illustrated here is equipped with a performance function for generating electronic tones on the basis of performance data (more specifically, performance event information) supplied in real time in accordance with a progression of a performance based on operation, by a human operator, on a performance operator unit 5, and for successively generating tones of a music piece (or accompaniment on the basis of performance data, including performance event information, supplied in real time in accordance with a performance progression order. The electronic musical instrument is also equipped with a rendition style impartment function which, during execution of the above-mentioned performance function, permits a performance while imparting thereto desired rendition styles, particularly a so-called "tonguing" rendition style in the instant embodiment, in accordance with a result of a rendition style determination; for this purpose, the rendition style impartment function determines a musical expression or rendition style to be newly applied, on the basis of characteristics of the performance data supplied in real time in accordance with a performance progression based on operation, by the human operator, on the performance operator unit 5, or of the performance data sequentially supplied in accordance with a predetermined performance progression order. The so-called tonguing rendition style is a rendition style which characteristically occurs during a performance of a wind instrument, such as a saxophone, and in which the human player changes notes by changing playing fingers the moment the player temporarily blocks the passage of air through the mouthpiece so that a note is sounded with an instantaneous interruption. Other rendition style similar to the tonguing rendition style is one representative of a "reversal of a bow direction" that is carried out during a performance of a stringed instrument, such as a violin. In this specification, rendition styles, musical expressions and the like, including one in which a note is sounded with an instantaneous interruption as by a reversal of a bow direction, will hereinafter referred to as "tonguing rendition styles" for convenience of description. [0016] The electronic musical instrument shown in FIG. 1 is implemented using a computer, where "performance processing" for realizing the above-mentioned performance function and "automatic rendition style determining processing" (see FIG. 4) for realizing the above-mentioned rendition style impartment function are carried out by the computer executing respective predetermined programs (software). Of course, the performance processing and the automatic rendition style determining processing may be implemented by microprograms to be executed by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), rather than by such computer software. Alternatively, these processing may be implemented by a dedicated hardware apparatus having discrete circuits or integrated or large-scale integrated circuit incorporated therein. [0017] In the electronic musical instrument of FIG. 1, various operations are carried out under control of a microcomputer including a microprocessor unit (CPU) 1, a read-only memory (ROM) 2 and a random access memory (RAM) 3. The CPU 1 controls behavior of the entire electronic musical instrument. To the CPU 1 are connected, via a communication bus (e.g., data and address bus) 1D, the ROM 2, RAM 3, external storage device 4, performance operator unit 5, panel operator unit 6, display device 7, tone generator 8 and interface 9. Also connected to the CPU 1 is a timer A for counting various times, for example, to signal interrupt timing for timer interrupt processes. Namely, the timer 1A generates tempo clock pulses for counting a time interval or setting a performance tempo with which to automatically perform a music piece in accordance with given music piece data. The frequency of the tempo clock pulses is adjustable, for example, via a tempo-setting switch of the panel operator unit 6. Such tempo clock pulses generated by the timer 1A are given to the CPU 1 as processing timing instructions or as interrupt instructions. The CPU 1 carries out various processes in accordance with such instructions. The various processes carried out by the CPU 1 in the instant embodiment include the "automatic rendition style determining processing" (see FIG. 4) for determining whether or not to apply a tonguing rendition style, as a unique rendition style of each musical instrument used, in order to achieve a more natural and more realistic performance. Although the embodiment of the electronic musical instrument may include other hardware than the above-mentioned, it will be described in relation to a case where only minimum necessary resources are employed. [0018] The ROM 2 stores therein various programs to be executed by the CPU 1 and also stores therein, as a waveform memory, various data, such as waveform data (e.g., rendition style modules to be later described in relation to FIG. 2B) corresponding to rendition styles unique to or peculiar to various musical instruments. The RAM 3 is used as a working memory for temporarily storing various data generated as the CPU 1 executes predetermined programs, and/or as a memory for storing a currently-executed program and data related to the currently-executed program. Predetermined address regions of the RAM 3 are allocated to various functions and used as various registers, flags, tables, memories, etc. Similarly to the ROM 2, the external storage device 4 is provided for storing various data, such as performance data to be used for an automatic performance and waveform data corresponding to rendition styles, and various control programs, such as the "automatic rendition style determining processing" (see FIG. 4). Where a particular control program is not prestored in the ROM 2, the control program may be prestored in the external storage device (e.g., hard disk device) 4, so that, by reading the control program from the external storage device 4 into the RAM 3, the CPU 1 is allowed to operate in exactly the same way as in the case where the particular control program is stored in the ROM 2. This arrangement greatly facilitates version upgrade of the control program, addition of a new control program, etc. The external storage device 4 may use any of various removable-type external recording media other than the hard disk (HD), such as a flexible disk (FD), compact disk (CD-ROM or CD-RAM), magneto-optical disk (MO), digital versatile disk (DVD) and semiconductor memory. [0019] The performance operator unit 5 is, for example, in the form of a keyboard including a plurality of keys operable to select pitches of tones to be generated and key switches corresponding to the keys. This performance operator unit 5 can be used not only for a real-time tone performance based on manual playing operation by the human player, but also as input means for selecting a desired one of prestored sets of performance data to be automatically performed. It should be obvious that the performance operator unit 5 may be other than the keyboard type, such as a neck-like device having tone-pitch-selecting strings provided thereon. The panel operator unit 6 includes various operators, such as performance data selecting switches for selecting a desired one of the sets of performance data to be automatically performed and determination condition inputting switches for calling a "determination condition entry screen" (not shown) for entering determination criteria or conditions for determining whether or not to apply a tonguing rendition style (rendition style determination conditions). Of course, the panel operator unit 6 may include other operators, such as a numeric keypad for inputting numerical value data to be used for selecting, setting and controlling tone pitches, colors, effects, etc. for an automatic performance based on performance data, keyboard for inputting text or character data and a mouse for operating a pointer to designate a desired position on any of various screens displayed on the display device 7. For example, the display device 7 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD), CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and/or the like, which visually displays various screens in response to operation of the corresponding switches, various information, such as performance data and waveform data, and controlling states of the CPU 1. [0020] The tone generator 8, which is capable of simultaneously generating tone signals in a plurality of tone generation channels, receives performance data supplied via the communication bus 1D and synthesizes tones and generates tone signals on the basis of the received performance data. Namely, as waveform data corresponding to rendition style designating information (rendition style event) included in performance data are read out from the ROM 2 or external storage device 4, the read-out waveform data are delivered via the bus 1D to the tone generator 8 and buffered as necessary. Then, the tone generator 8 outputs the buffered waveform data at a predetermined output sampling frequency. Tone signals generated by the tone generator 8 are subjected to predetermined digital processing performed by a not-shown effect circuit (e.g., DSP (Digital Signal Processor)), and the tone signals having undergone the digital processing are then supplied to a sound system 8A for audible reproduction or sounding. Continue reading about Automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method... Full patent description for Automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Automatic rendition style determining apparatus and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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